Even 'hypoallergenic' dogs don't carry a sneeze-free guarantee

April 12, 2009|By William Hageman Tribune newspapers

Those hypoallergenic dogs? Like the one the First Family will be adopting?

They may not be exactly what people think.

"We don't always like the 'hypoallergenic' term, because there is no true hypoallergenic dog," says veterinarian Jay Whittle of Mill Creek Animal Clinic in Palos Park, Ill. "Allergies are dictated by the person with the allergies and what their immune system is going to do."

Dr. Zaid Jabbar, an allergist with Edward Medical Group in Bolingbrook, Ill., explains that flaking of microscopic bits of the animal's skin is what causes the problem.

"There are some thoughts that dogs have certain bacteria in their saliva that also could potentially do that as well," Jabbar says. "But the theory behind that isn't as certain."

For those unlucky people with allergies, the tiny particles cause the immune system to produce antibodies, sparking allergic reactions: sneezing, stuffy nose, runny and itchy eyes. That's where the allergist comes in.

"We can manage [allergies] with medications," Jabbar says, citing antihistamine tablets and sprays or steroid nasal sprays. And if that's not enough, they can try allergy shots, which are based on skin scrapings of the person's pet. By reintroducing those scrapings in tiny amounts, a person's immune system can be trained to accept it.

"People can continue to have dogs and live an OK life," Jabbar says.

Dog lovers also need to be smart about the breed they choose and be willing to make adjustments.

Whittle says that dogs whose coats are more like hair than fur are less likely to cause allergies to flare up.

"Most of the dogs that are groomed rather than those that shed will be less of a problem," he says. "Poodles, bichons, Yorkies [Yorkshire terriers] are less likely to cause problems."

When looking for a dog, it's not necessary to pay premium prices to a breeder. A Portuguese water dog, reportedly the breed the Obamas have settled on, can go for $2,000 or more. But Paula Fasseas, founder of PAWS Chicago, says she sees allergy-friendly breeds at her shelter all the time.

"We get a lot of bichon mixes, Lhasa apsos," she says. "We always have them."

Shelters offer another benefit: Many have foster programs that let prospective owners get to know a dog-and vice versa-before making the adoption final. PAWS has one such foster-to-adopt program.

"That's what's great about a shelter," Whittle says. "They'll work with you. It's a foster program, and [if the dog doesn't work out] you come back and choose another."

He has another suggestion for a family dealing with allergies. After you settle on a breed, find someone who has one of those dogs and set up a visit.

"Go to their house, to their environment," he says. "And spend some time to see if you're going to respond negatively to that dog."

Once you bring home a dog, you will need to keep it clean and groomed. That can run $30 to $50 every four to six weeks. And keep the house clean, including filters on the furnace, "all the things they're probably already doing because they're an allergic person," Whittle says.